Unhappy with your agent? Tell your agent.

 Not long ago a REALTOR® I know got a call from a homeowner whose house is on the market with another agent here in Tamaqua. It hadn’t sold after months on the market and he wanted my friend to come and tell him why.

 

Of course the agent said no. When a home is listed for sale with a real estate agent, it is part of a legal contract between the seller and that agent. No other agent has a right to intrude on that relationship. In fact, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics forbids us from doing so.

 

The time to get second opinions is before the house is listed – or after the current listing expires.

 

Out of curiosity, my friend went to the Multiple Listing Service and looked up the house. Considering that it hadn’t been updated in many years, the house was sadly overpriced, even after a recent price reduction.

 

The other agent involved is a highly regarded professional, so chances are he had recommended a lower price and the seller had refused to take his advice.

 

Sometimes the seller is the reason why a house doesn’t sell.

For instance, the seller may insist upon an unrealistic price; he or she may not be willing to put the house in showing condition and keep it there; he might restrict the days and times when the house can be shown; or she might insist on staying in the house while potential buyers are there.

 

Sometimes, the seller simply won’t take the agent’s advice.

 

Sometimes it IS the agent’s fault.

Among the many reasons why a house doesn’t sell are reasons that are within the agent’s control. These reasons include:

• Failing to respond to showing requests, especially from competing agents.
• Using unprofessional or ugly pictures in the MLS.
• Using too few pictures.
• Failing to write enticing descriptions of the home.
• Failing to tell the seller the truth about correct pricing.

In addition, some agents simply lack the nerve to tell a seller that his desired price is unrealistic, or that he or she MUST do some cleaning and de-cluttering. (Do you have any idea how difficult it is to say “Your house is a mess?”)

 

What’s the cure for this?

First, go on line and see how your house is being represented.

• Look at the pictures and read the remarks.
• Look at other homes similar to yours in location, size, age, and condition to see if your pricing seems in line with the others.

Have a friend call a competing agent and ask for a showing, just to see how that request is handled.

 

Now, think about the advice your agent has given you. Have you followed it – or not?

 

Next, sit down and talk with your agent.

If your research told you that the agent isn’t doing his or her job, explain that you want the problems corrected or the listing terminated.

 

If you realize that perhaps you haven’t been doing your job, ask your agent to tell you what you can do to correct that.

 

And… if the price is the problem, ask for an updated market analysis.

If you’re thinking of listing, or if your Tamaqua house has expired off the market unsold, call me. I’ll be happy to provide you with a true market analysis, and I’ll be pleased to show you examples of how I market my listings. I’ll also be honest with you about what you as a seller need to do.

The one feature you can’t change about your new Tamaqua home

When you begin your search for a new home in Tamaqua, you may be focused on finding a home that’s the right size for your household and offers the right amenities. You may be in search of a gourmet kitchen, a luxurious master suite, a four-car garage, or a fenced yard for your children or pets.

Those are all important, but in most cases they’re features you can add or change in the future.

The one thing you can’t change is the location.

Even if a house is perfect in all other respects, if it’s in the wrong location, you aren’t going to be happy in the long run.

That’s why we agents ask questions that might almost seem intrusive.

 

Questions like:

• Where do you work?
• Where do you (or your children) go to school – or want to go to school?
• What are your interests, hobbies, and recreational pursuits?
• Do you need to be near public transportation?
• Do you have family and friends in the community?
• Does anyone in your household need to be near a hospital?
• Do you fly often, so need good access to the airport?

 When I know these things, I’ll work hard to find you a “just right” home in a Tamaqua location that will minimize your travel and allow you time to do the things you love.

 

Are you ready? Call me!

Hunting for a Tamaqua home? Let your agent save you time.

When you first begin your search for a home here in Tamaqua it seems pretty simple to just go on line to Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, and agency sites that offer a link to the local Multiple Listing Service.

 

Then all you have to do is call and arrange for a showing.

 

The first hurdle you’ll face is that unless you know the territory inside-out, you won’t know where those homes are located just from their street addresses.

• Are they near your work, school, family, or recreational venues?
• Are they in a neighborhood that's improving - or deterioriating?

Next, especially if you’re looking on Trulia and Zillow, you won’t know if they’re still available or if they were sold months ago.

 

When you have a buyers’ agent working for you, you don’t have to worry about those things. All you have to do is explain your needs, your wants, and your budget, then let your agent use his or her vast knowledge of the market to sort and find the homes that will be:

• In the right location
• The right size for your household – with the features you desire
• Priced at true market value
• Priced to fit your budget

If you don’t find the home of your dreams immediately, your buyers’ agent will remain on the lookout – checking the new listings daily for homes that might be just right for you. Then he or she will alert you and get you a showing that fits your schedule.

 

Are you looking for a home in Tamaqua? If so, and if you don’t already have a buyers’ agent, call me. I’ll be happy to do the research and help you find that “just right” home.